Anomalous shadow detection system

Abstract

An improved anomalous shadow detection system enables more reliable and efficient image diagnosis of an image of a suspected anomalous shadow etc. outputted by image output means. The image output means displays values of standard parameters concerning the suspected anomalous shadow and/or certainty of detection of the suspected anomalous shadow together with the image of the detected suspected anomalous shadow.

1. An anomalous shadow detection system comprising
 anomalous shadow detecting means for detecting a suspected anomalous shadow from image data descriptive of an inputted image according to a prescribed detection process, and 
 image output means for outputting information including at least information identifying the detected suspected anomalous shadow, wherein 
 the image output means further outputs type(s) and value(s) of one or more standard parameters concerning the suspected anomalous shadow in a visually recognizable manner together with the information including at least the information identifying the suspected anomalous shadow, wherein each of said one or more standard parameters is a parameter used for distinguishing the suspected anomalous shadow from a normal shadow, and the anomalous shadow detecting means detects the suspected anomalous shadow by judging whether a probability that a shadow detected according to the prescribed detection process is a malignant tumor is high. 
 
     
     
       2. An anomalous shadow detection system according to  claim 1 , wherein the image output means is either of image display means or printing means. 
     
     
       3. An anomalous shadow detection system according to  claim 1 , wherein the image output means further outputs certainty of detection of the suspected anomalous shadow together with the information including the information identifying the suspected anomalous shadow. 
     
     
       4. An anomalous shadow detection system according to  claim 3 , wherein the image output means is either of image display means or printing means. 
     
     
       5. An anomalous shadow detection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more standard parameters include at least one of calcification density, image density concentration of the suspected anomalous shadow, an output value of an iris filter, and malignancy/benignancy of the suspected anomalous shadow. 
     
     
       6. An anomalous shadow detection system according to  claim 5 , wherein the image output means is either of image display means or printing means. 
     
     
       7. An anomalous shadow detection system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said one or more standard parameters include at least one of calcification density, image density concentration of the suspected anomalous shadow, an output value of an iris filter, and malignancy/benignancy of the suspected anomalous shadow, and wherein 
 the image output means further outputs certainty of detection of the suspected anomalous shadow together with the information including the information identifying the suspected anomalous shadow. 
 
     
     
       8. An anomalous shadow detection system according to  claim 7 , wherein the image output means is either of image display means or printing means. 
     
     
       9. An anomalous shadow detection system according to  claim 1 , wherein the anomalous shadow detecting means detects the suspected anomalous shadow by judging whether the probability that the shadow detected according to the prescribed detection process is the malignant tumor is high, prior to the image output means outputting information including the at least information identifying the detected suspected anomalous shadow. 
     
     
       10. An anomalous shadow detection system according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more standard parameters include at least one of calcification density, image density concentration of the suspected anomalous shadow, and an output value of an iris filter. 
     
     
       11. An anomalous shadow detection system according to  claim 1 , wherein the anomalous shadow detecting means comprises one of an iris filter and a morphology filter. 
     
     
       12. An anomalous shadow detection system according to  claim 11 , wherein the anomalous shadow detecting means comprises the iris filter, and the anomalous shadow detecting means further conducts a shape analysis on geometric features of the suspected anomalous shadow. 
     
     
       13. An anomalous shadow detection system according to  claim 11 , wherein the anomalous shadow detecting means comprises the morphology filter for detecting a suspected microcalcification shadow. 
     
     
       14. An anomalous shadow detection system according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more standard parameters are a plurality of standard parameters. 
     
     
       15. An anomalous shadow detection system comprising
 anomalous shadow detecting means for detecting a suspected anomalous shadow from image data descriptive of an inputted image according to a prescribed detection process, and 
 image output means for outputting information including at least information identifying the detected suspected anomalous shadow, wherein 
 the image output means further outputs certainty of detection of the suspected anomalous shadow together with the information including the information identifying the suspected anomalous shadow, and the anomalous shadow detecting means detects the suspected anomalous shadow by judging whether a probability that a shadow detected according to the prescribed detection process is a malignant tumor is high. 
 
     
     
       16. An anomalous shadow detection system according to  claim 15 , wherein the image output means is either of image display means or printing means. 
     
     
       17. An anomalous shadow detection system according to any one of  claims 1 – 8 , and  15 – 16 , wherein the information identifying the suspected anomalous shadow is either of an image of the suspected anomalous shadow or numerical data descriptive of a position, morphology or size of the suspected anomalous shadow. 
     
     
       18. An anomalous shadow detection system according to  claim 15 , wherein the anomalous shadow detecting means detects the suspected anomalous shadow by judging whether the probability that the shadow detected according to the prescribed detection process is the malignant tumor is high, prior to the image output means outputting information including the at least information identifying the detected suspected anomalous shadow.